VAN PUGH SOUTH CAMPGROUND
VAN PUGH SOUTH CAMPGROUND

Featured amenities

Pet Friendly Pet Friendly
Showers Showers

About Van Pugh South Day Use Facility

Van Pugh South Day Use Facility lies on the banks of Lake Sidney Lanier in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northern Georgia. The popular lake boasts nearly 700 mi of shoreline and over 100 small islands, providing over 11 million annual visitors with limitless recreation opportunities.

Activities & Attractions

Nearby

Boating

Boating

Spring Summer Fall
Fishing

Fishing

Year-round
Kayaking

Kayaking

Spring Summer Fall
Swimming

Swimming

Summer

Seasonal information

2026 Season availability

Current season
Upcoming seasons
Past seasons
Closed periods
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Currently closed

Campground Amenities

Most popular amenities

Pet friendly Pet friendly
Showers Showers
Water and Hygiene

Water and Hygiene

  • Potable Water
  • Showers
Water Access

Water Access

  • Lake Access
Pets and Policies

Pets and Policies

  • Pet friendly
Missing information?

Reviews (631)

What Guests Are Saying

Van Pugh South Day Use Facility is highly praised for its friendly and accommodating staff, well-maintained sites, and cleanliness, making it a perfect spot for a day at the lake. Many visitors express a desire for the campground to reopen for overnight camping, highlighting its appeal for extended stays. Overall, guests enjoy the privacy and experience offered, especially in comparison to public beaches.

Review Summary

4.3
631 reviews
5
62.4%
394
4
21.6%
136
3
5.9%
37
2
3.8%
24
1
6.3%
40

Julio R

August 30, 2022

5

Awesome park very nice people, I will go back every summer

RICKY B

August 29, 2022

4

Bathrooms need some work and cleaning

RICKY B

August 29, 2022

4

Bathrooms need some work and cleaning

RICKY B

August 29, 2022

4

Bathrooms need some work and cleaning

Jay H

August 27, 2022

3

I was highly impressed by the park roads, restrooms, and most camp sites. Many of the sites were terrifically located and fairly private. Several Tent sites were too close but that was rare. I loved the small beaches near several campsites - these are visible from the satellite view of the campground. My main disappointment was noise. Nobody should hear the maintenance group blowing leaves at 7:30am when you are camping. The camp ground being near the lake had a party atmosphere because one set of boats anchored out of the camp site blared music until 11:00pm and the next day one family blared music from their site. If it had not been for the noise of these groups I would have rated this with five stars. Hopefully, you will not experience the same issues and will have a truly nice time camping. I will likely give it another try because it is close, cheap, and was a beautiful location.

Jay H

August 27, 2022

3

I was highly impressed by the park roads, restrooms, and most camp sites. Many of the sites were terrifically located and fairly private. Several Tent sites were too close but that was rare. I loved the small beaches near several campsites - these are visible from the satellite view of the campground. My main disappointment was noise. Nobody should hear the maintenance group blowing leaves at 7:30am when you are camping. The camp ground being near the lake had a party atmosphere because one set of boats anchored out of the camp site blared music until 11:00pm and the next day one family blared music from their site. If it had not been for the noise of these groups I would have rated this with five stars. Hopefully, you will not experience the same issues and will have a truly nice time camping. I will likely give it another try because it is close, cheap, and was a beautiful location.

Jay H

August 27, 2022

3

I was highly impressed by the park roads, restrooms, and most camp sites. Many of the sites were terrifically located and fairly private. Several Tent sites were too close but that was rare. I loved the small beaches near several campsites - these are visible from the satellite view of the campground. My main disappointment was noise. Nobody should hear the maintenance group blowing leaves at 7:30am when you are camping. The camp ground being near the lake had a party atmosphere because one set of boats anchored out of the camp site blared music until 11:00pm and the next day one family blared music from their site. If it had not been for the noise of these groups I would have rated this with five stars. Hopefully, you will not experience the same issues and will have a truly nice time camping. I will likely give it another try because it is close, cheap, and was a beautiful location.

Gretchen W

August 26, 2022

4

Nice quiet campground during the week. I camped alone and felt perfectly safe. I really enjoyed the little beach just down the slope from site 39. I sat in the shallow water and watched little fish swim around me. There’s no privacy from site 38, but the two would be a good option for two families to reserve together. Its a woodsy campground with sandy tent pads.
My 14’ x 8’ tent barely fit, but I think it’d be too big for most sites, so call ahead to make sure. The campground was only about a third full, so I had plenty of privacy. The sunset views on the other side of the peninsula are amazing! Saw deer several times, even a fawn, and ducks visited the cove. The hosts were plenty nice, but I didn’t need much. The showers were warm and clean enough. If you’re freaked out by spiders, you’ll probably disagree with me. All in all, a nice place to camp. I hope to return.

Gretchen W

August 26, 2022

4

Nice quiet campground during the week. I camped alone and felt perfectly safe. I really enjoyed the little beach just down the slope from site 39. I sat in the shallow water and watched little fish swim around me. There’s no privacy from site 38, but the two would be a good option for two families to reserve together. Its a woodsy campground with sandy tent pads.
My 14’ x 8’ tent barely fit, but I think it’d be too big for most sites, so call ahead to make sure. The campground was only about a third full, so I had plenty of privacy. The sunset views on the other side of the peninsula are amazing! Saw deer several times, even a fawn, and ducks visited the cove. The hosts were plenty nice, but I didn’t need much. The showers were warm and clean enough. If you’re freaked out by spiders, you’ll probably disagree with me. All in all, a nice place to camp. I hope to return.

Gretchen W

August 26, 2022

4

Nice quiet campground during the week. I camped alone and felt perfectly safe. I really enjoyed the little beach just down the slope from site 39. I sat in the shallow water and watched little fish swim around me. There’s no privacy from site 38, but the two would be a good option for two families to reserve together. Its a woodsy campground with sandy tent pads.
My 14’ x 8’ tent barely fit, but I think it’d be too big for most sites, so call ahead to make sure. The campground was only about a third full, so I had plenty of privacy. The sunset views on the other side of the peninsula are amazing! Saw deer several times, even a fawn, and ducks visited the cove. The hosts were plenty nice, but I didn’t need much. The showers were warm and clean enough. If you’re freaked out by spiders, you’ll probably disagree with me. All in all, a nice place to camp. I hope to return.

Location & Directions for Van Pugh South Day Use Facility

6749 Gaines Ferry Road, Flowery Branch, GA 30542 United States

Elevation: 344 ft

Getting There

Take I-85 north to I-985, take Exit 8, turn left on Highway 347/Friendship Road. Turn right on McEver Road, then left on Gaines Ferry Road and follow signs to the campground.

Nearest town

Flowery Branch, GA - 5 mi

About 12 min to downtown

Highway access

The campground is accessible via I-85 and I-985, with Exit 8 leading to Highway 347/Friendship Road. McEver Road and Gaines Ferry Road provide further access to the facility.

Nearby Campgrounds

Nearby destinations


Last updated: October 7, 2026

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Explore Flowery Branch, GA

Population: 10,925

Nearby city: Alpharetta, GA

Approx. 19 mi away (straight-line distance)

Elevation: 1,122 ft

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